Switch-operating mechanism.



A. DE WITT. SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM. PrLwuxoN Hman JAn.z7,1sos.

908,756. Patented .1311.5, 1909.

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A. DE Wm. SWITCH OPERATING MEGHANISM. AIPLIOATIOR FILED JAN. 27,1908.

908,756. Patented Jan. 5, 1909.

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A.. DE WITT. SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27,1909.

Patented Jan. 5, 1909. l

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFTfOE.

ARTHUR DE WITT, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO PAUL KINDR, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

SWITCH-OPERATING- MECHANISM.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1909.

Application led. January 27, 1908. Serial No. 412,823.

To all whom 'it' may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR DE IIT-r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switch-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in switch operating mechanism for automatically throwing` railway switches, and it is adapted more especially for use on street railways, enabling the switches to be thrown automatically from the car without the necessity of stopping the latter, and it dispenses with the use of a switchman.

The primary object of the invention is to provide switch operating mechanism of this class that is composed of a few simple parts that may be made cheaply and are not liable to get out of order, the construction of the mechanism being such that certainty of operation is insured, the switch being thrown in one direction by the actuating part on one car, and thrown in a reverse direction when operated by the actuating device on another car, the mechanism resetting itself automatically preparatory to the next operation thereof.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide switch operating mechanism of this class wherein the operating elements are actuated without the use of springs and other parts that are liable to get out of order, so that a positive movement of the switch is insured.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved box or casing, and a cooperating lid for covering and inclosing the operating mechanism whereby the mechanism is protected from dirt, sleet and other unfavorable weather conditions, although the lid is capable of providing convenient means of access to the interior of the box for inspection, repairs and other purposes.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations and arrangements of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch operating device constructed in accordance with my present invention, the lid of the box being removed, and the operating elements being shown in one of the two actuated positions; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the operating slide during its return movement to reset the mechanism preparatory to the subsequent operation thereof to throw the switch into a reverse position; Fig. 3 represents a central longitudinal section of the device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4t represents a transverse section through the box and mechanism on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, the lid being shown in position on the box; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the main operating slide which is actuated by a treadle on the car; Fig. 6 is a detail view of the switch operating' member removed from the box; Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the actuating device or treadle on the car, and indicating the relative position of the switch throwing device; Fig. 8 is a plan view of a section of a street railway track provided with a switch operating device constructed in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of a car equipped with another form of switchthrowing device, one arranged at each end of the car.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the several views.

Switch operating mechanism constructed in accordance with my present invention is capable of use generally on railways of various kinds, but it is especially adapted for use on street railways where the frequency of service requires operation of the switch at very close intervals, and the operation of the device is controlled automatically by the motorman or operator of an approaching car, the successive operations of the device serving to throw the switch alternately into reverse positions so that resetting of the mechanism is accomplished automatically.

In the present instance the switch operating mechanism is inclosed in a box or casing 1 that may be composed of cast iron or other suitable material, the box being closed at the bottom and sides and is provided with a movable lid or cover 2, embedded flush with the surface of the ground, the lid being preferably roughened on its upper surface to prevent slipping of horses thereon and pro- -vided with peripheral flanges 3 which cooperate with the sides of the box to provide a tight joint that will prevent the entrance f horizontally through the slide from side to of water or other foreign matter. In order side, the plate being of a width greater than to facilitate manipulation of the lid in opening and closing it, it is preferably hinged to one end of the box by means of hinge lugs 4 and 5 carried by the box and lid respectively, pivotally connected by suitable pintles or bolts. Slidably mounted transversely of the box and at one end thereof is a switch operating member 7 having a rod 8 which is adapted to pass through one of the openings 9 or 10 of the box and is attached to one or both of the switch points according to the character of the switch to which the device is applied. In the present instance the operating rod is attached to a single switch point 11 of the rail 13, the other rail 14 being provided with a frog 12, as shown in Fig. 8. It is generally preferable to provide an aperture at each side of the box in order that the switch operating member 7 may be reversed,

thereby enabling the box and its mechanism to be located at either the right or left hand side of the track, and it is generally preferable to place the box immediately adjacent to the outside of one of the rails as shown in Fig. 8. The switch operating member 7 is reciprocated alternately in opposite directions at each operation of the device by a passing car, and the mechanism for effecting this movement of the switch operating member comprises a main actuating slide 15 which is guided to reciprocate longitudinally of the box, one end of the slide being slotted longitudinally to form a pair of parallel arms 16 which operate at opposite sides of a guide 17 formed integral with or otherwise secured to the bottom of the box. The opposite end of the said slide is guided to operate through a slot 1S formed in the corresponding end Vwall of the box. a pair of parallel guides 19 coperating with the opposite sides of the slide to prevent lateral displacement thereof. The switch operating member 7 is provided with a transverse opening 20, the end walls of which coperate with an arm 21 projecting from a lever 22,1the latter being pivoted to operate in a horizontal plane about a pivot pin 23 and has a pair of reverselv arranged pawls 24 and 25 pivotally attached bv the pins 26 and 27 to the opposite ends of said lever. The operating slide 15 is provided with a pair of reverselv arranged shoulders or projections 28 and 29 formed at the oppovsite sides thereof. these projections being arranged to alternately enga ge the ends of the pavvls 24 and 25 to tilt the lever to which they are attached alternately in opposite directions at each actuation of the slide. In order to obtain this result however only one of the pawls must engage its respective projection at a time. and the operationof the pawls is controlled by a controller 30. that shown in the present instance comprising a plate tted in a mortise or slot 31 extending the width of the slide in front of the pawl engaging projections thereon, the engagement of one of the pawls with its projection serving to displace the opposite edge of the controller at the opposite side of the slide a distance suliicient to guide the opposite pawl clear of its respective projection.

The coperation of the pawls and their respective projections is controlled also by a pair of dogs 32 and 33 which are pivoted to the bottom of the box on pins 34 and 35 respectively, the upper ends of the dogs being arranged to engage the corresponding pawls and move them inwardly into engagement with their corresponding projections Von the slide, and the opposite ends of the dogs are provided with cam heads 36 and 37 arranged to cooperate with the cam projections 38 and 39 formed on opposite sides of the slide and in rear of the pawl engaging projections thereon, these cam projections serving to actuate the dogs to throw one of the pawls into engagement with its respective shoulder as the slide returns to normal or set position. The return movement of the slide to normal position is effected preferably by means of a spring action, a helical spring 40 being shown in the present instance having one end attached to the box and its opposite end hooked in an aperture 41 formed in the slide.

ln the present instance the device is actuated automatically by means of a part carried by the car, and for this reason the slide is provided with a heel 42, one side of which is adapted to be engaged by the operating part on the car while its opposite end is adapted to operate in a recess 43 formed in the lid and to engage a shoulder 44 to arrest the movement of the slide toward actuated position. The heel of the operating slide is protected by a boss 45 formed on the upper side of the lid, and in order to protect the operating part on the car after disengaging from the heel of the slide.v it is preferable to provide an Lip-standing rib 46 which extends longitudinally on the upper side of the lid in alinement with the slide, the upper edge of *he rib being` sloped or inclined from the edge ofthe lid to the boss. The part on the car is automatically disengaged from the heel on the operating slide by means of a pair of cam tracks 47 which are formed on the upper side of the lid at opposite sides of the operating slide, the tracks being inclined toward the top of the boss 45 so that as the heel. 42 of the slide moves toward actuated position, the part on the car will be lifted from the rear of the heel.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed for actuating the slide of the switch throwing device from the platform of a car. the device shown in Fig. 7 comprising a bellcrank lever 48 pivoted at 49 to a vertical barl 49a which in this instance is bolted or fastened directly to a sill beneath the vestibule of the car, a roller or projection 50 at the rear end of the lever being arranged to coperate with the heel on the operating slide, and this lever is set in operative and inoperative positions by means of a treadle or other suitable device 51 extending through the platform of the car and acting upon a bell-crank lever 52 suitably pivoted to the under side of the car floor, a link 53 serving to connect the two levers whereby a depression of the treadle 51 will move the roller or operating projection on the end of the lever 49 into the path of the heel on the operating slide. Other modes of attaching the switch-tripping device from the car, a vertical standard or bar 60 being attached to the inclined truss rods 61 at the opposite ends of the car by means of truss rod clamps 62, as shown in Fig. 9, and the upper end of each vertical bar is braced by a brace rod 63 which is an` chored to the bottom of the car, the other parts of the devices being similar to that shown in Fig. 7.

In order to minimize friction of the moving parts of the mechanism, and to prevent. wearing thereof, it is preferable to support the operating elements by means of anti-friction devices, ball-bearings 54 being fitted between the bottom of the box and the switch operating member 7 similar ballbearings 55 being fitted beneath the pawls 24 and 25, and a set of ball-bearings 56 being fitted beneath the operating slide whereby the movement of these parts may be accomplished with the expenditure of a minimum amount of power, and wearing of the parts is practically eliminated.

In practice the switch throwing device is located beside the track a suitable distance in advance of the switch points in order that the operating device on the car may reach and operate the device to throw the switch before the wheels of the car enter the latter. In order to throw the switch before an approaching car, it is only necessary to depress the treadle 51 which causes a corresponding depression of the operating roller 50, the latter being brought into line with the heel 42 on the operating slide, and the movement of the car will cause a corresponding movement of the slide 15. Normally the slide occupies the position shown in Fig. 1, one of the pawls, pawl 25 in that instance, being arranged to engage the projection 29, and a movement of the slide toward the left will cause a corresponding movement of the pawl 25, but as the latter rests against the side of the slide, it will cause the controller 30 to project a sufficient distance beyond the opposite side of the slide to prevent engagement of the opposite pawl 24 with the projection 28 as the slide moves toward actuated position, the movement of the pawl 25 toward the left will cause a pivotal movement of the lever 22, and through the arm 21 thereon, the switch operating member 7 will be shifted. The roller 50 remains in engagement with the heel 42 on the slide until it traverses the inclined cam tracks 47 on opposite sides thereof, these cam tracks serving to automatically lift the roller out of engagement with the heel, and the moment the heel is disengaged, the slide will immediately ret-urn to normal position or in a direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 under the action of the tension springs 40. After the slide has moved toward the right, a suiiicient distance to carry the pawl engaging projections 28 and 29 beyond the ends of the corresponding pawls, the cam projections 3S and 39 will engage the cam heads on the dogs 32 and 83, causing the free ends of th'e dogs to move inwardly, the dog 32 striking the nearest pawl 24 and throwing the latter inwardly into a position to engage the corresponding` projection 88 on the next movement of the slide toward actuated position, and as the pawl 24 moves into operative position, the position of the controller 30 will be reversed, throwing the pawl 25 out of line with the corresponding projection 29. When a car approaches that requires a reversal of the position of the switch, the operating device of the car is set to engage the slide as previously described, the slide causing the pawl 24 to move with it and thereby reverse the position of the switch points.

Switch operating mechanism constructed in accordance with my present invention is composed of a few parts that are simple in construction and the use of springs and other devices that are liable to become broken is reduced to a minimum, and the movements of the switch operating member to shift the switch, and the controlling of the actuating pawls for said member are eected by positive means, so that certainty of operation of the mechanism is insured. Moreover in the present instance the several parts of the mechanism are removably fitted into the bottom of the box, and are retained in this position by means of the movable lid or cover. The latter however is hinged or otherwise movably attached to the box so that access may be had to the mechanism therein by removal of the lid.

I claim as my invention:

1. Switch operating mechanism comprising an operating slide movable in the direction of movement of a vehicle and having an operating heel thereon, a switch operating member, devices alternately set positively in coperative relation with said slide after each retraction thereof for alternately throwing the switch in reverse positions by the successive operations of the slide in a given direction, and means movable transversely on said slide for controlling the engagement of said devices therewith.

2. Switch operating mechanism comprising an operating slide having means to engage an actuating device on a vehicle and provided with a pair of operating projections, a switch operating member adapted for attachment to the switch, a pair of oppositely arranged pawls operatively connected to said member, and a device operable transversely on the slide and arranged to coperate successively to set said pawls in engagement with the respective projections for throwing the switch in reverse directions at each successive operation of the slide in the same direction.

3. Switch operating mechanism comprising an operating slide adapted to reciprocate in the direction of movement of a vehicle and having means for engaging the latter to effect its operation, a switch operating member adapted to be attached to the switch, a pair of reversely arranged pawls operatively connected tothe switch operating member, means operable with the slide f'or successively actua-ting said pawls to throw the switch in reverse positions, and a controller movable transversely into reverse positions on the slide for alternately disengaging the pawls from their operating means.

t. Switch operating mechanism comprising a reciprocatory slide having a pair of reversely arranged operating projections thereon, a switch operating member, a pair of reversely arranged pawls operatively connected to said member and adapted to engage the said projections on the slide, and a controller carried by and movable transversely on the slide for disengaging one pawl from its respective projection when the opposite pawl engages its respective projection.

5. Switch operating mechanism comprising a slide adapted to be operated by a vehicle, a switch operating member adapted to be attached to a switch, the slide being provided on opposite sides with a pair of reversely arranged operating projections, a pair of reversely arranged pawls operatively connected to said member and arranged to coperate with the respective projections on the slide, and a plate pivoted on the slide and of a width greater than the latter for preventing engagement of one pawl with its respective projection when the opposite pawl is in position to engage its respective projection.

6. Switch operating' mechanism comprising a slide, a switch operating member, a pair of actuating pawls operatively connected to said member, devices operable by the slide for actuating said pawls when the slide is moved in one direction, and dogs operable by the slide when the latter moves in a reverse direction for alternately setting the pawls in operative position.

7. Switch operating mechanism comprising a slide, a switch operating member, a pair of pawls operatively connected to said member, devices operable by the slide for successively engaging said pawls to set the switch in reverse positions, a pair of dogs arranged to successively engage the pawls to set them alternately in operative positions, and a pair of oppositely arranged cam projections on the slide for actuating said dogs on the return movement of the slide.

8. Switch operating mechanism comprising a box, a switch operating member mounted therein and adapted to be attached 'to the switch, a slide mounted in the box and movable transversely of the switch operating member, said slide having a heel thereon adapted to be actuated by a part on a moving vehicle, devices operatively connected to said member for moving it .in reverse directions during each successive movement of the slide, and a cover fitting the box and provided with an inclined cam track extending longitudinally at one side of the heel of the slide for automatically disengaging an operating device from the heel.

9. Switch operating mechanism comprising a boxA a switch operating member mounted to reciprocate therein, a lever pivoted in the bottom of the box and provided with an arm arranged to extend through a mortise in the said member, a pair of reversely arranged pawls pivotally connected to said lever, a slide movable transversely of the switch operating member and provided with means tor alternately actuating the respective pawls, and dogs operable by the return movement of the slide for alternately moving` the pawls positively in operative position.

10. Switch operating mechanism comprising a box, a switch operating member mounted to reciprocate therein, a slide also mounted to operate in the box and provided with an upwardly projecting heel, devices for alternately shifting the switch operating member into reverse positions at each successive movement of the slide in a given direction, means for effecting the return movements of the slide, a cover fitting the box and having an opening through which said heel projects, an actuating device adapted to be carried by a vehicle having a projection arranged to engage said heel to actuate the slide, and inclined cam tracks arranged on the cover and extending longitudinally at opposite sides of the heel for automatically lifting and disengaging said actuating device therefrom.

11. Switch operating mechanism of the class described comprising a box adapted to be located beside the track, a switch operating member guided to reciprocate therein, an operating slide also guided for movement in the box and having devices operatively @canse Si connecting it to said member for actuating arranged in alinement with the boss and the the latter, the said slide being provided with heel of the slide. an upwardly projecting operating heel, a In testimony whereof I have hereunto set lid fitting the top of the box and pivotally my hand in presence of two subscribing Wit- 5 coilinected thereto at one end, the lidhhaving nesses.

a ongitudinal openin to expose t e heel, and inclined cam trackgs at opposite sides of ARTHUR DE WITT' the opening to automatically disengage an wWitnesses: actuating device from 'the heel, a boss on the ROBERT L. ROMY,

10 lid to cover the heel, and an inclined rib JOHN W. BREWER. 

